Plate and panel with inscriptions or designs



May 16, 1933- PAISSEAU ET AL 1,909,220

PLATE AND PANEL WITH INSCRIPTIONS OR DESIGNS Filed Feb. 1931 Fig.1.

9;; LMEZTEQR 175 L 11w x T iii;

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. solvent or an adhesive can be used for in- Patented May 16, 1933 UNlTjE STATES JEAN rmssrau AND RODOLPHE GERM or rim-Is FBANCE PLATE nn PANEL wrrrr rnscnrr'rroivs on DESIGNS AppIication filed. February 5, 1931,Seria1 K095123361, and. in France December 11, 1930.

This invention relates to the manufacture of plates and panels with inscriptions or designs, capable of being used for road and urban signalling, advertising, motor car number plates, plates for the name and numbers of streets, placards for shop windows, and the like.

According to this invention, each plate or panel comprises, on the one hand, an in scription constituted by one or more members cut out according to the required designs in a thin sheet of metal, preferably brilliant and essentially presenting a surface with numerous parts in relief suitable to reflect light in all directions; these parts inflrelief can have the shape of juxtaposed pyramids or cones, of ribs arranged parallel or crosswise, or in herringbone, quincunx fashion, etc.; and, on the other hand, a covering sheet made of transparent andsupple material, the outer face of which is plain and the inner face exactly fits the uneven 01' embossed surface of the metal sheet and intimately adheres thereto.

Generally speaking, the embossed or waved conformation of the metal sheet will be imparted thereto by compression against a suitable die, and one Of the features of this invention consists in utilizing as a die a simple wire gauze composed of wires havng'a su t bl ize a su tably Sp e apar by firmly pressing this wire gauze against the elements cut out in a plain metal sheet, and themselves applied against a transparent covering sheet made of plastic material resting on a smooth surface, it is possible to easily obtain both the requiredconformation of these elements, that of the inner face ofthis transparent sheet and, besides, the adhesion of-"the latter to the elements thus stamped out. The plasticity of the covering sheet will, preferably, be brought to the suitable degree by the action of heat and, if need be, a

creasing-the adherence ofthe metallic'elements, so that, when taken out from the press, the whole structure will constitute a compact plate ready to be employed.

Instead o a-W r gauze, use an be made of a perforated sheet metal plate or of any other part capable of acting as a die, for nstance a piece of net or tulle, etc., acut out or engraved plate, etc., for obtaining the required goffering,

Another feature of the invention consists in uniting to the transparent covering sheet and to the waved metall c elements forming the inscription, a sheet the colour and opacity of which can be so chosen as to constitute a background or backing on which the inscription will be clearly displayed.

In this case, this backing sheet, when it is also constituted by a plastic material, can

be placed against the inscription elements and the covering sheet before exerting pres.- sure. The die being placed behind the backing sheet, will enter the same, and its projece tions or its solid portions will drive back both the superposed layers of plastic rnaterial and of thin metal by imparting to the same the required conformation and ad.- herence. V a e If. the die enters but slightly the plastic material, it will be possible to easily separate therefrom all the said superposed layers, which will then constitute a plate or a panel according tothe invention.

But another important feature of thisinvention consists, on the contrary, in leaving the die, wire gauze or thelike,incorporated in" the plastic material, so that it becomes: an integrant part of the plate or :panel and constitutes for the latter a strengthening considerably increasing the strength of the samev i It is thus possible to obtain by a. single stroke of the press, the conformation,.the final union and the reinforcement ,of all the parts, so asto rapidly'and economically provide a panel which is unbreakablann: distortable, unalterable, which does not re.- quire any maintenan e an pe f tly lends itself to the various above mentioned uses owing to the very conspicuous effect due to the reflecting facets of the elements of the inscription or design.

The rear face of the panel can, if neces, sary, be covered Witha sheet of cardboard,

sheet can be glued on to the backing plate under the action of the same stroke of the press which assembles all the parts.

' When the die remains incorporated in the panel, it is possible, in certain cases, to use it as backing, so that the layer of plastic material provided for showing off the inscriptions or designs then becomes unnecessary.

A form of carrying out the subject-matter of the invention and modifications of embossed metallic elements are illustrated in the accompanying drawing by way of example.

F ig.. 1 is anelevation, with parts broken away, of a panel bearing a very simple inscription.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section, on an enlarged scale, made according to line AA of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate portions of embossed metallic elements.

1 designates a covering sheet made of transparent plastic material, for instance a cellulosic material, 2 designates elements cut out according to the required design in a thin and brilliant metal sheet, for instance aluminum, 3 is asheet of plastic material similar to the preceding one, but having a suitable coloration and opacity for constituting a background, 4 is a wire gauze having relatively large meshes, and 5 a card board sheet.

These various parts are assembled by pressure, with or without intervention of heat, solvents, or adhesives.

Usually, the compression will conveniently be exerted at a suflicient temperature in order that the sheets 1 and 3 may be sufiiciently plastic and exactly fit the distortions of the metallic elements 2, in concordance with the solid portions andempty spaces of the wire gauze 4, so that, after crushing, no free space will be left between the various parts. In order toperfectly ensure the ad heren'ce of the latter, their cont-act faces can be covered with a suitable solvent before superposing them.

Fig. 1 shows that the surface of the elements 2 has taken, under the influence of pressure, an embossed shape, comparable to a network of interrupted ribs arranged in quincunx order, some according to one direction, the others at right angles thereto, thus forming a large number of facets reflecting light in all directions.

These ribs will be more or less accentuated according to'the size of the meshes and wires, the plasticity of the material, the malleability of the brilliant metal and the'degree of pressure.

If use is made, as a die, of a stamp or engraved plate, etc., it will be possible to produce in the sheets 1, 3 and elements 2 distortions of all kinds; Fig. 3 shows, for instance, projections in the shape of juxtaposed pyramids having a square base, and

Fig. 4 shows ribs arranged according to two oblique directions forming a very acute angle.

It is to be understood that instead of including the parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 indicated above, the panel can comprise only the parts 1, 2, 3, 4 or 1, 2, 3, 5, or even only the parts 1, 2, 3 or 1, 2, 4 or 1, 2, 5, if some of the advantages resulting from the complete combination are sacrificed. I.

By the term plastic material used in this specification is meant not only the cellulosic or like materials which are plastic at a low temperature, but also the materials which, as glass, become plastic at a high temperature and present, in the cold state, suitable qualities of transparency and strength.

On the other hand, the brilliant sheet in which are cut out the elements of the inscriptions or designs can be constituted, not only by a metal, but also by any other suitable brilliant or shining material, in sheet form.

Relating to the opaque backing sheet 5, it can be constituted by cardboard, or, generally speaking, by any material capable of receiving an impress, either in the natural condition or after a suitable preparation.

It is to be also understood that without departing from the scope of the invention, the designs, letters, digits, etc, of the inscriptions can be obtained in such a manner that they are set out by a dark or dull aspect on a brilliant background.

e claim;

1. In an advertising panel, the combina tion of a transparent plate, an opaque plate applied on one of the sides of the said transparent plate, and letters or designs made of thin and brilliant sheets clamped between both plates, the surfaces in contact of both plates being embossed so as to perfectly fit on each other and the letters and designs clamped between them having a corresponding embossed shape.

2. In an advertising panel, the combination of a transparent plate having a smooth side, an opaque plate on the side of the said transparent plate opposed to the smooth side of the latter, and letters or designs made of thin and brilliant sheets, clamped between both plates, the surfaces in contact of the said plates being embossed so as to perfectly fit on each other, and the letters and designs clamped between them having a cor responding embossed shape. 7

3. In an advertising panel, the combination of atransparent plate which may be rendered plastic at a low temperature and having a smooth side, an opaque plate also made of a material which can be rendered plastic at a low temperature and fitted on the side of the said transparent plate opposed to the smooth side of the latter, and letters or designs made of thin and brilliant sheets clamped between both plates, the shape corresponding to the meshes of the surfaces in contact of the said plates being sa embossed so as to perfectly fit on each other id wire gauze. In testimony whereof we have hereunto and the letters and designs clamped between aflixed our signatures.

them having a corresponding embossed shape.

4. In an advertising panel, the combination of a transparent plate having a smooth side, an opaque plate fitted on the side of the said transparent plate opposed to the smooth side of the latter, and letters or designs made of thin and brilliant metal and clamped between both plates, the surfaces in contact of the said plates being embossed so as to perfectly fit on each other and the let ters and designs clamped between them having a corresponding embossed shape.

5. In an advertising panel,'the' combination of a transparent plate made of a material which can be rendered plastic at a low temperature and having a smooth side, an opaque plate also made of a material which can be rendered plastic at a low temperature and fitted on the side of the transparent plate opposed to the smooth side of the latter, letters or designs made of thin and brilliant sheets and clamped between both plates, and elements having an embossed surface, incorporated from the rear to the said opaque plate, the surfaces in contact of the said plates and of the said letters or designs be 1 ing embossed correspondingly to the said elements. v

6. In an advertising panel, the combination of a transparent plate made of a material which can be rendered plastic at a low temperature and having a smooth side, an

opaque plate also made of a material which 7 can be rendered plastic at alow temperature and fitted on the sideof the said transparent plate opposed to the smooth side of the latter, letters or designs made of thin and brilliant sheets and clamped between both plates, and a grid incorporated from the rear to the said opaque plate, the surfaces in contact of both plates and of the letters and designs clamped between them having an embossed shape corresponding to that of the said grid.

7. In an advertising panel, the combination of a transparent plate made of a material which can be rendered plastic at a low temperature and having a smooth. side, an opaque plate also made of a material which can be rendered plastic at a low temperature and fitted on the side of the said transparent plate opposed to the smooth side of the latter, letters or designs made of thin and brilliant sheets and clamped between both plates, and a wire gauze having large meshes, incorporated from the rear to the said opaque plate, the surfaces in contact of both plates and of the letters and designs clamped between them having an embossed 

